{
  "id": 14270117,
  "title": "Tassie team, Chinese and WNBA imports to boost new WNBL season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/tassie-team-chinese-and-wnba-imports-to-boost-new-wnbl-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T18:47:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-14/wnbl-season-preview-tasmanian-jewels-chinese-imports/107256550"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The new Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) season kicks off with a diverse lineup of teams and players from across the globe. Tasmania's Jewels, the ninth team in the competition, are set to host the Geelong Venom in their opening game.\nLauren Jackson, a former Opals star, will serve as Chief Strategy and Basketball Partnerships Officer, leading the privately-owned league into its second season. Jackson expressed her excitement about the league's growth, citing a 43% increase in crowd figures and a 130% boost in broadcast reach last season.\nThe WNBL, now in its 47th year, continues to expand its horizons with the inclusion of Chinese national team players such as Shuyu Yang and Siyu Rainy Yang. Additionally, Han Xu will return to Geelong after playing for Perth Lynx last season.\nThe league's ambition to become a leader in the Asia Pacific region has been strengthened by these international signings. WNBL players like Jaz Shelley, who recently moved to the Sydney Flames, are enthusiastic about the growing global reach of the sport. Shelley aspires to play in the WNBA in the future.",
  "summary": "The WNBL entered a much hyped new era last season under private ownership. Now Australia's longest running elite women's domestic sporting competition is hoping to build on the gains, under the leadership of one of the all-time greats.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tasmania's Jewels, ninth team, opens season vs Geelong Venom",
    "Lauren Jackson leads league as Chief Strategy and Basketball Partnerships Officer",
    "Chinese players Shuyu Yang and Han Xu join WNBL roster"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "Tassie team, Chinese and WNBA imports to boost new WNBL season",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/tassie-team-chinese-and-wnba-imports-to-boost-new-wnbl-season-14272615",
        "published": "2026-10-13T18:47:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}